Hiking at Jens Jensen Nature Preserve and Pepperidge Dunes Nature Sanctuary in Sawyer, Michigan

Hiking at Jens Jensen Nature Preserve and Pepperidge Dunes Nature Sanctuary in Sawyer, Michigan

We seized upon a recent sunny summer weekend to head up to Michigan. Always looking for new spots to hike, I keyed in on the Jens Jensen Nature Preserve in Sawyer. Adjacent to the Jens Jensen Nature Preserve is the Pepperidge Dunes Nature Sanctuary. The combined 45-acres of the preserves containing woodlands and wetlands present a lovely oasis for nature lovers.

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Afternoon in New Buffalo, Michigan

Afternoon in New Buffalo, Michigan 

New Buffalo, Michigan is one of our favorites spots to wander a little bit. Of course, we love to spend time savoring Lake Michigan views:

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Walking Among the Trees at Galien River County Park in New Buffalo, Michigan

Galien River County Park in New Buffalo, Michigan Treats Hikers to a Tree Canopy and Boardwalk Walk with Fantastic Views

A family day in New Buffalo, Michigan has long been one of our favorite summer traditions. We love to start our day at the beach and wander through town stopping for ice cream. Then, we would wind up Red Arrow Highway making a variety of stops. On this visit, we explored a new to us spot and were immediately entranced while adventuring at Galien River County Park.

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Unique Holiday Events in the Midwest

The next two months will certainly be a bit of a blur as we celebrate good tidings and savor those special moments that only happen during the holidays. Before we get all wrapped up in the revelry, I have gathered some unique holiday celebrations in the Midwest with the help of some of my favorite travel gurus. If you are planning something different, here are events that top our lists. Please add your favorites in comments. We all love to add a new holiday celebration to our traditions!

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Beaching it in New Buffalo, Michigan!

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View from one of the dunes.

Every summer we make a day trip to New Buffalo, Michigan for a little escape. The drive is about 2 hours from our home in the Chicago suburbs. So, we pick a Sunday to get up early for our special day on Lake Michigan. We have been doing this for years, so New Buffalo feels almost like home.

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Ideas for Holiday Fun in Michigan!

Sometimes road trip inspiration can be hard to come by in the winter months. Fortunately for us, travel writer and Michigander Jessie Voigts has put together a great list of upcoming holiday events in nearby Michigan sure to inspire a road trip or two! Thank you to Jessie putting this holiday round up together!

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Grand Rapids Eats {Our Dining Discoveries in Grand Rapids}

One really fun aspect of travel is the ability to have some new foodie adventures! Travel invites exploration and new discoveries. During our visit to Grand Rapids we found a few places that we liked quite a bit! Each of our culinary adventures were recommended to us by travel writers and they were really spot on!

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Beach Time in Grand Haven {Michigan}

When I first moved to the Chicago area, I had no idea about the beauty of the nearby Michigan beaches and beach communities. I am originally from New Jersey, so that longing for the ocean quickly kicked in. So, before I knew it--we were exploring beaches along Lake Michigan and quickly fell in love with beaches in Michigan! So many stunning finds and the adjoining communities reminded me of home. During our visit to Grand Rapids, we spent a little time visiting Grand Haven and discovered a wonderful community for a little family rest and relaxation!

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Rosy Mound Natural Area for a Family Respite

Everyone needs those places that seem far, far away from the real world. Rosy Mound Natural Area in Grand Haven, Michigan is one of those places. Rosy Mound has a fairly secluded, rustic beach ideal for a little tuning out.

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Inspirational Walk through the Grand Rapids Art Museum

One of the biggest and most pleasant surprises of our Grand Rapids vacation was our discovery of the Grand Rapids Art Museum. The museum is steps away from the downtown hotels, so very convenient for a visit on any trip to Grand Rapids.

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A Foundation for Your Trip at the Grand Rapids Public Museum

If you want to learn more about the history of Grand Rapids, the Grand Rapids Public Museum is the place to go. The museum presents several exhibits on the foundations of the city which will give you more of a connection. Of all of the exhibits, we were entirely amazed by the old city streets of Grand Rapids which is one of the best city street reproductions we have seen.

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Capturing Serenity at Frederik Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park {Grand Rapids}

When on vacation, you are fortunate to experience one utterly awe-inspiring moment. At Frederik Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park in Grand Rapids, Michigan, we experienced several. A number of scenes and gardens captured our hearts and left us with us with special memories to take home.

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Family Weekend in Grand Rapids, Michigan

This past weekend we headed up to Grand Rapids, Michigan for a little summer exploration. Grand Rapids is about 3.5 - 4 hours from the Chicago area making it great for a long weekend. As the second largest city in Michigan, you can imagine there is a lot to experience in the city! This week, we will be talking about our Grand Rapids discoveries as well as our fun at nearby Grand Haven for a little beach time.

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The Village Store: A Source of Locally Made Products in Three Oaks, Michigan

**Disclosure: No compensation was received for this post. All opinions are 100% my own.

During our recent visit to Three Oaks, Michigan, we happened to be strolling down Elm Street and discovered a new store in town: The Village Store. The Village Shop is one of those places that just speaks to us because the products are all locally made--most made in the surrounding area in Michigan. {We did spy a chocolate bar made in Indiana, but American-made is always good with me!} A wide range of crafts, food items, beauty products and curiosities can be found throughout the store.

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Journeyman Distillery: Handcrafting Spirits in Small Town Michigan

**Disclosure: No compensation was received for this post. All opinions are 100% my own.

Journeyman Distillery in Three Oaks, Michigan has been on our list for some time. A whiskey distillery, Journeyman is located inside the historic Featherbone Factory which once served as a factory for corsets and buggy whips. Already, you can tell a trip to Journeyman is fascinating.

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G & M Variety Store in St. Joseph, Michigan: A Place to Reminisce

One of my favorite things about travel is finding that unexpected treasure whether it be a new novelty or a relic of years gone by. As a child, I remember my grandparents walking me along their downtown streets in a rural Wisconsin town to every child's favorite treasure trove--the dime store! In St. Joseph, Michigan, we have found G & M Variety Store, a lovely store that hearkens back to these dime stores that we adored as children. With so much change in the world, it is a comfort to find one of these fun elements of childhood still alive and to be able to show our daughter the simple joys of a dime store adventure. Situated on St. Joseph's main street, the setting itself is enough to give you warm fuzzies.

When you enter the store, you will notice that the store might quite literally have everything. From cards and a pleasant gift section to a puzzle and game collection to sundries to sweatshirts and socks {rows of socks}, there is a lot to explore. Where else are you going to find these games that you really won't find, well--anywhere! {As a Civil War buff, I love that they have these!}

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Pleasant House Three Oaks: British Comfort Food in Southwest Michigan

Last weekend, we went on our annual February jaunt to Michigan. A few years ago, we stumbled on the Magical Ice Fest in St. Joseph and loved it so much that we have returned every February since. *Weather willing, of course!* Each time we return, we try to explore a little more and uncover new gems that we did not know about. We first learned about the village of Three Oaks after reading about it on the Chicago Foodie Sisters blog. After reading about Carrie's culinary experiences in Three Oaks, we knew we had to visit.  Over the summer, we visited Froelich's and picked up some goodies for the beach. Froelich's is definitely a foodie wonderland! This time, we visited Pleasant House for their meat pies. When my husband eyed these treats this past summer, I knew we would be back!

From the outside, Pleasant House looks like a venue worthy of any gourmand. When we walked in, we noted the refined pub-like atmosphere. Pleasant House is one of those places where you can sit back and relax for awhile. The restaurant definitely has a comfortable setting.

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St. Joseph Annual Magical Ice Fest: Frosty Fun This Weekend in Michigan

One of my favorite festivals in the Magical Ice Fest in St. Joseph, Michigan. The artistry of the ice carvers at the festival is just breathtaking. I cannot believe what they can carve out of a block of ice! For me, winter is pretty bleak and this one has certainly been particularly harsh. Fun festivals like this one make it easier to get through winter! I thought I would share some photos from last year's festival.

Take a look at the wonders:

 

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Froehlich's {a must stop in Michigan for any foodie}

We frequently visit the New Buffalo, Michigan area. While we love our old favorites, we also enjoy finding some new surprises. I read about Froehlich's on the Chicago Foodie Sisters blog some time ago and have had it on my list for awhile. We finally stopped in today and loved it!

Froehlich's is tucked away in cute Three Oaks, Michigan. A true epicurean wonderland, Froehlich's has so much to look through---preserves from homegrown fruit, intriguing relishes, fresh ground peanut butter, from scratch breads and so much more! All of the preserves are in beautiful glass jars, adding an elegant touch.

Froehlich's also has cute foodie items to peruse. I enjoyed the little alcove with vintage dishes.

Since the store is also a cafe, you can order some sandwiches or a salad or even a quesadilla for lunch. We ordered a few things for the beach and went on our way. We enjoyed our sandwiches and I have to say that I really enjoyed the mustard! (Which is a good thing because I am a mustard snob!) We also left with a small portion of fudge which was already packaged ideally for your picnic basket!

Next time that I visit Froehlich's, I plan on loading up on some of their berry preserves. They look great and there are some interesting combinations! I may also pick up some peanut butter---it looks delicious!

Froehlich's is located at 26 N Elm in Three Oaks, Michigan. You can also order online!

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Seasons Harvest: a Culinary Treat in Harbor Country

On a recent trip to Michigan's Harbor Country, we stopped at a cute little epicurean shop called Seasons Harvest. Seasons Harvest is tucked away on Red Arrow Highway in Harbert, Michigan. As soon as we entered the store, we were glad to have uncovered this tucked away treasure. Seasons Harvest has quite a collection of BBQ sauces, salsas, rubs, dessert toppings, grilling sauces, and more. (For those curious, Red Arrow Highway is a scenic drive through Harbor Country lined with a number of interesting shops and restaurants. I definitely recommend ambling along Red Arrow Highway when heading to Harbor Country.)





The store is very cute and everything is easy to peruse. When we entered the shop, we were immediately greeted by the store owner. She explained all of the products to us, which made it easy to find items that fit our tastes. Samples were readily available. Ingredients were easy to understand. (No preservatives--nice!) Since there also was a chocolate event going on, we were able to try some of the chocolate dessert toppings warmed up like fondue. Yum! Everything invited exploration so you could really try the products and go home with something you enjoyed.

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